that would hurt the whole country, of course president obama as well. they have to be careful here as well. but democrats and the president clearly believe that they have the leverage to force an increase in these tax rates on the upper income americans before they agree to a deal. >> we'll all be watching the stock market as well. if that indeed happen. >>> the president is also concentrating on recasting his new cabinet and one name that came up yesterday is a replacement for leon panetta at the defense department. actually a republican, chuck hagel. former senator from nebraska. >> it's possible, but this is a real game of musical chairs right now. the president has to fill at least three big jobs, secretary of state, hillary clinton, defense and cia. and if the president does not choose susan rice that means john kerry goes to state and hagel goes to defense. if he chooses kerry for state then you could end up having hagel go to cia. we just don't know right now. but all of those names are in play as we talk. >> this wouldn't be his first republican